DBCP

Data Buoy Cooperation Panel

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Connecting you to the ocean: fast, reliable, and open access to buoy data

Access to buoy data

Real-time

Buoy data is generally available in real time to platform operators via telecommunications providers and very quickly distributed on the Global Telecommunications System of the WMO (GTS) and the WMO Information System (WIS2.0).

Near-real time and Archived data

References

Data Policy

data access policy

Data access policy

The DBCP encourages free and open access to data. Real time data sharing is achieved via the Global Telecommunications System of WMO. At present, all of the archiving agencies and many of the operational and research bodies make provision for the release of drifter data to scientific and other customers. In particular, many data are available via the web, either in the form of trackplots or as data sets. In many cases, the policies relating to the release and use of these data are not immediately clear. The Panel is seeking clarification from these agencies, and from its action groups, with a view to developing a coordinated data access policy for drifter data within the letter and the spirit of the WMO data exchange policy defined in WMO Congress Resolution 40 (Cg-XII).

data archiving

Data archiving

Drifter data inserted on the GTS are routinely archived by ISDM, the IODE Responsible National Oceanographic Data Centres (RNODC) for Drifting Buoys. The AOML DAC archives all data from the GDP, and any other drifter data that are made available to it. The Panel and its action groups will actively encourage all buoy operators to forward their data to one or other of these responsible global archives.

instrumental metadata

Instrumental Metadata

There has been an increasing demand for instrumental metadata in recent years to serve a number of applications, and climate studies in particular. Similar to other GOOS networks, DBCP platform operators provide metadata to OceanOPS, where OceanOPS transfers some of the metadata including mandatory metadata to the WMO OSCAR system.

quality control

Quality Control

Quality control procedures are in place to ensure the usefulness of real time data and also of data archives. A well-defined feedback mechanism is required to control real time data. This is described under the DBCP QC Guidelines page.

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